it seems I look at my planner and don't see anything, nothing stands out because it's all in black ink or something. I develop a blindness to it just like crap in the house.

I use one of those At A Glance planner 8-1/2 x 11 I think. Been using that size for a couple of yrs but had used smaller versions for a long time. A counselor who I went to to help with planning, suggested larger size. ugh! Too dang big.